MIDWEEK MINUTES April 11, 2015
Midweek
Minutes
April 11,
2014
Hello,
Winners!
I’ve been referencing the book
Goddesses Never Age by Dr. Christiane Northrup in my meetings the past
two weeks. I watched a PBS Special she did a few weeks ago and got her book.
The reason I have been so fascinated with the book is because some teachers my
age are retiring, and I am not. I have been pondering if retirement is
something I am ready to do. I love what I do, but there are days when I wonder
if colleagues and bosses look at a person my age with a dismissive attitude that
we are too old and past our prime.
Yes, there are some days I want to stay home from work (hahaha!), but I don’t want to retire. I would be restless. I still love what I do. I would like to be able physically to continue to do that, and I want to know that I am doing everything possible to achieve that goal.
Yes, there are some days I want to stay home from work (hahaha!), but I don’t want to retire. I would be restless. I still love what I do. I would like to be able physically to continue to do that, and I want to know that I am doing everything possible to achieve that goal.
As I began reading this book, I
realized what I do want. I am not a doctor or a nutritionist, but Dr. Northrup
is. My goal is to be healthy and fit at any age, and what Dr. Northrup says
makes sense.
Dr. Northrup says, “the reality is
that our bodies are not separate from our thoughts or emotions.” I see people,
especially women my age, complaining about their health. I hear members talking
about different health issues they have and their desire to get off medications
or lose weight to feel better. What do YOU want your life to be like 5 or 10
years down the road?
Dr. Marcia Tate spoke to me in
person at a recent Adolescent Literacy Project workshop. She came up to me
telling me she “wanted my hair. “ I told her that I wanted her skin. We chatted
for awhile about retiring. She is my age. She has written many books for
engaging learners’ brain, such as Worksheets Don’t Grow Dendrites, and
she does workshops full time all over the world. She’s an ageless goddess! Dr.
Tate says nobody should retire until they have a passion for something.
And then...in her book, Dr. Northrup talks about dendrites that branch off of neurons in the bran too (there are NO coincidences in my finding this stuff from two different sources...this all is definitely connected!)
Dr. Northrup says, “ Like trees, our minds and bodies are always growing and expanding, forming new connections between thoughts, ideas, activities, and experiences. OUR minds, bodies, and organs are formed and constantly remodeled every day. The quality of these connections -- which we can change at any age – has everything to do with that we believe and how we behave.
And then...in her book, Dr. Northrup talks about dendrites that branch off of neurons in the bran too (there are NO coincidences in my finding this stuff from two different sources...this all is definitely connected!)
Dr. Northrup says, “ Like trees, our minds and bodies are always growing and expanding, forming new connections between thoughts, ideas, activities, and experiences. OUR minds, bodies, and organs are formed and constantly remodeled every day. The quality of these connections -- which we can change at any age – has everything to do with that we believe and how we behave.
Regardless of my age, I DON’T want
to feel old. Dr. Northrup continues, “So, are you going to grow older with gusto
or deteriorate with age? Will you stick with the old paradigm of battling the
body to get it to behave itself? Will you continue putting other people’s needs
ahead of your own and fueling yourself with processed foods, sugar, caffeine,
anxiety, and sheer willpower? Or will you get off the road that leads to
illness, frailty, and reduced quality of life and start living courageously, as
if you really mean it?”
I, for one, am taking this advice.
I hope you don’t mind if I share more of what I am learning from time to time.
Hope you all want to have a wonderful life no matter what age you are!
Let’s do it together! –Zig
Let’s do it together! –Zig
P.S. Hope you got your taxes
done!
Member
Milestones
Superior: –4.8
lbs.
Hastings: –9.6
lbs.
10%
Sarah
W. ( H )
Attitude adjustment
Think positive! A sunnier outlook
can help you stay (or get back) on track.
Orville and Wilbur Wright. J.K. Rowling. Bill Gates. Oprah. If any of
these notable people had given up after their first, or third, or 10th setback,
none of us would know their names today. Of course, they didn’t give up. They
kept going, learning from their failures, and eventually succeeding. The rest,
as they say, is history.
Obstacles crop up in every journey, especially with weight loss. And it can be hard to stay positive in the face of them. But the most successful "losers" are the ones who simply refuse to give up. They achieve their goals by persevering and learning from their mistakes.
In your meeting this week, you learned how negative thinking can hold you up, whether you tend to downplay the good things you’re doing or assume that one slip means disaster. Hey, we’re all prone to negative thinking. The problem is that it can be self-fulfilling. A more effective approach, according to research into what leads to weight-loss success, is confidence and positive thinking coupled with realistic expectations (like accepting the fact that you’re likely to slip a few times, and that it will take time to reach your goal).
Here’s how that might play out: You step on the scale at some point and see a gain, a smaller loss than you expected, or no movement at all. What happens next? Do you beat yourself up and throw in the towel? Or do you look at the big picture and think about how far you've come? Do you take a look back at the week and see where you might make a change? And no matter what, do you get right back on track as soon as possible? Those are ways to apply positive thinking to situations that could trip you up otherwise.
Putting a better spin on things, while accepting the lessons that setbacks can teach, can restore your confidence. And positive self-talking can help you learn how to use words that will not only make you feel more optimistic but also keep you motivated.
Obstacles crop up in every journey, especially with weight loss. And it can be hard to stay positive in the face of them. But the most successful "losers" are the ones who simply refuse to give up. They achieve their goals by persevering and learning from their mistakes.
In your meeting this week, you learned how negative thinking can hold you up, whether you tend to downplay the good things you’re doing or assume that one slip means disaster. Hey, we’re all prone to negative thinking. The problem is that it can be self-fulfilling. A more effective approach, according to research into what leads to weight-loss success, is confidence and positive thinking coupled with realistic expectations (like accepting the fact that you’re likely to slip a few times, and that it will take time to reach your goal).
Here’s how that might play out: You step on the scale at some point and see a gain, a smaller loss than you expected, or no movement at all. What happens next? Do you beat yourself up and throw in the towel? Or do you look at the big picture and think about how far you've come? Do you take a look back at the week and see where you might make a change? And no matter what, do you get right back on track as soon as possible? Those are ways to apply positive thinking to situations that could trip you up otherwise.
Putting a better spin on things, while accepting the lessons that setbacks can teach, can restore your confidence. And positive self-talking can help you learn how to use words that will not only make you feel more optimistic but also keep you motivated.
SPECIAL
OFFERS
From April 12 – 27, Free Starter Kit for
new/returning members who join and purchase a subscription plan.
From April 12 – June 6 Join For Free (ALL
subscription based plans except onlinePlus 1 month)
4/5 – 4/25: Mini Bars will be on sale for $4.95
4/5 – 5/2 All Cookbooks will be on sale for 25% off: large
cookbooks for $11.20; small cookbooks for $7.95
Permanently Discounted while
supplies last:
Creamy Coconut Smoothies and Dulce de Leche
Mini Bar for $4.95.
Aloha! Almond and Berry-licious Cashew Chew
for $3.95
24 Ways to Add Excitement to Your Life
Recharge your mind, body and soul with
these new ways to remove yourself from a rut.
Nothing will snap you out of a rut faster than trying
something new. From closet cleanouts to reconnecting with long-lost friends,
these ideas should keep you recharged and ready for action.
1. Take an evening class
Have you always wanted to write an award-winning screenplay, whip up Celtic bracelets or speak French like a native of Provence? The time is now! Call your local community center and sign up for a noncredit course.
2. Get a makeover
Fancy yourself a redhead? Ask your hairdresser for a dye, or try a semi-permanent rinse at home. And what about your makeup? Book an appointment with a department store cosmetics specialist, and leave looking like a new person, even if you only actually buy a lipgloss.
3. Spend quality time with your parents
Invite Mom and Dad out for dinner and a movie.
4. Find a blast from the past
Stop wondering what happened to your best friend from primary school — track him or her down and find out. It could rekindle a great friendship!
5. Clean out your wardrobe
Be brutal! If that dress clings in all the wrong places or that jacket looks like a tent since you lost weight, bag them for charity.
6. Put your hand up
Give something back to the community by volunteering to help a charity. Deliver meals to the elderly with Meals on Wheels. Sign up as a Red Cross volunteer. Help your local Humane Society by cleaning, feeding and walking stray dogs.
7. Spice up your social life
Spend a night at a karaoke bar or theme park or line-dancing with a group of friends, and tighten your stomach muscles with all the laughing you'll do.
8. Formalize your weight goal
Set on reaching a certain weight by your niece's wedding or your partner's 40th? Then try strategies to motivate yourself. List 10 things you'll enjoy when you're slimmer. Take two more walks a week. Drink one more glass of water per day.
9. Trace your family history
Who knows, you may discover some interesting skeletons in the closet or a famous long-lost ancestor. Local genealogical societies are a great resource, and a lot of information can be found online.
10. Create a fragrant oasis indoors
Go on a shopping spree for scented candles, soaps, essential oils and potpourri. Want to be more hands-on? Hit the crafts shop and snap up some "how to" books on candle-making and soap kits.
11. Overdose on fresh air
Head to the park, but don't languish on a picnic blanket — get moving! Ride a bike, feed the ducks, throw a Frisbee, walk your dog, play a game of tag or rent some inline skates.
12. Absorb more culture
Art and history can be good soul food — spend an afternoon at a gallery or museum catching the latest exhibition. Can't be bothered fighting the crowds? Then check your local paper for smaller exhibitions at libraries or community centers.
13. Decode your dreams
Was that snake you dreamed of an omen of danger? Keep a dream diary by your bed to record your dreams right when you wake up. Then discover what your subconscious is telling you with a dream analysis book or by looking it up online.
14. Feel young again
Thumper in Bambi, Ariel in The Little Mermaid — recapture the wonder you felt watching them by spending an afternoon at a kids' movie. If you don't have kids of your own, offer to take your sister's or friend's children — they'll love you for it.
15. Sit around a campfire
Tell ghost stories, roast marshmallows and bellow old campfire favorites. The warmth of friends and flame will relax and mesmerize you.
16. Go bazaar
With bright scarves, the smell of fresh flowers and straight-from-the-farm food, open-air markets give your senses a complete workout. Enjoy one-stop shopping by picking up ingredients for tonight's dinner, buying a new outfit, choosing a rug for the kitchen and purchasing some new house plants.
17. Plan the ultimate party
Choose a theme: make it an evening of wine-tasting, a literary occasion, a "fortune-telling" night (organize a psychic to come and give readings) or a beauty session where you and your friends give each other manicures and pedicures while sipping Champagne.
18. Redecorate your bedroom
For a touch of the Orient, place large, black, square candles atop a bed of cloves on square saucers for a romantic safari vibe. Or try mosquito netting hung from a ring above your bed. The only limit is your imagination — so decide what ambience you want to create, then go for it.
19. Get the team spirit
Want to have fun, make friends and burn calories all at the same time? Then sign up for a team sport such as basketball, soccer or ice hockey.
20. Make your own greeting cards
Indulge in the artistic challenge of design using colored cardboard decorated with anything from rose petals or leaves to watercolors combined with ink. The satisfaction is two-fold — you'll enjoy surprising friends and family with such a personal statement.
21. Save at the sales
Tired of the frantic, last-minute dash to find birthday presents? Banish the panic factor by buying gifts for friends and relatives well in advance at mid-season sales.
22. Breakfast in style
Pack a scrumptious breakfast, then take it to a scenic spot such as the beach or a local park. Bring either a book or a friend.
23. Be a dancer
But don't play it safe. Instead of ballroom dancing, try Latino, Irish, belly or tap dancing. It will do wonders for your waistline and your coordination.
24. Consult on color
Should you buy that fabulous jacket in taupe or cream to best suit your complexion? Ask a color consultant (go to the department store to find one).
1. Take an evening class
Have you always wanted to write an award-winning screenplay, whip up Celtic bracelets or speak French like a native of Provence? The time is now! Call your local community center and sign up for a noncredit course.
2. Get a makeover
Fancy yourself a redhead? Ask your hairdresser for a dye, or try a semi-permanent rinse at home. And what about your makeup? Book an appointment with a department store cosmetics specialist, and leave looking like a new person, even if you only actually buy a lipgloss.
3. Spend quality time with your parents
Invite Mom and Dad out for dinner and a movie.
4. Find a blast from the past
Stop wondering what happened to your best friend from primary school — track him or her down and find out. It could rekindle a great friendship!
5. Clean out your wardrobe
Be brutal! If that dress clings in all the wrong places or that jacket looks like a tent since you lost weight, bag them for charity.
6. Put your hand up
Give something back to the community by volunteering to help a charity. Deliver meals to the elderly with Meals on Wheels. Sign up as a Red Cross volunteer. Help your local Humane Society by cleaning, feeding and walking stray dogs.
7. Spice up your social life
Spend a night at a karaoke bar or theme park or line-dancing with a group of friends, and tighten your stomach muscles with all the laughing you'll do.
8. Formalize your weight goal
Set on reaching a certain weight by your niece's wedding or your partner's 40th? Then try strategies to motivate yourself. List 10 things you'll enjoy when you're slimmer. Take two more walks a week. Drink one more glass of water per day.
9. Trace your family history
Who knows, you may discover some interesting skeletons in the closet or a famous long-lost ancestor. Local genealogical societies are a great resource, and a lot of information can be found online.
10. Create a fragrant oasis indoors
Go on a shopping spree for scented candles, soaps, essential oils and potpourri. Want to be more hands-on? Hit the crafts shop and snap up some "how to" books on candle-making and soap kits.
11. Overdose on fresh air
Head to the park, but don't languish on a picnic blanket — get moving! Ride a bike, feed the ducks, throw a Frisbee, walk your dog, play a game of tag or rent some inline skates.
12. Absorb more culture
Art and history can be good soul food — spend an afternoon at a gallery or museum catching the latest exhibition. Can't be bothered fighting the crowds? Then check your local paper for smaller exhibitions at libraries or community centers.
13. Decode your dreams
Was that snake you dreamed of an omen of danger? Keep a dream diary by your bed to record your dreams right when you wake up. Then discover what your subconscious is telling you with a dream analysis book or by looking it up online.
14. Feel young again
Thumper in Bambi, Ariel in The Little Mermaid — recapture the wonder you felt watching them by spending an afternoon at a kids' movie. If you don't have kids of your own, offer to take your sister's or friend's children — they'll love you for it.
15. Sit around a campfire
Tell ghost stories, roast marshmallows and bellow old campfire favorites. The warmth of friends and flame will relax and mesmerize you.
16. Go bazaar
With bright scarves, the smell of fresh flowers and straight-from-the-farm food, open-air markets give your senses a complete workout. Enjoy one-stop shopping by picking up ingredients for tonight's dinner, buying a new outfit, choosing a rug for the kitchen and purchasing some new house plants.
17. Plan the ultimate party
Choose a theme: make it an evening of wine-tasting, a literary occasion, a "fortune-telling" night (organize a psychic to come and give readings) or a beauty session where you and your friends give each other manicures and pedicures while sipping Champagne.
18. Redecorate your bedroom
For a touch of the Orient, place large, black, square candles atop a bed of cloves on square saucers for a romantic safari vibe. Or try mosquito netting hung from a ring above your bed. The only limit is your imagination — so decide what ambience you want to create, then go for it.
19. Get the team spirit
Want to have fun, make friends and burn calories all at the same time? Then sign up for a team sport such as basketball, soccer or ice hockey.
20. Make your own greeting cards
Indulge in the artistic challenge of design using colored cardboard decorated with anything from rose petals or leaves to watercolors combined with ink. The satisfaction is two-fold — you'll enjoy surprising friends and family with such a personal statement.
21. Save at the sales
Tired of the frantic, last-minute dash to find birthday presents? Banish the panic factor by buying gifts for friends and relatives well in advance at mid-season sales.
22. Breakfast in style
Pack a scrumptious breakfast, then take it to a scenic spot such as the beach or a local park. Bring either a book or a friend.
23. Be a dancer
But don't play it safe. Instead of ballroom dancing, try Latino, Irish, belly or tap dancing. It will do wonders for your waistline and your coordination.
24. Consult on color
Should you buy that fabulous jacket in taupe or cream to best suit your complexion? Ask a color consultant (go to the department store to find one).
BACK TO
BASICS
SEE MORE TIPS and
find more answers on eTools
NEXT WEEK IN THE
MEETING ROOM
“Foods That Love
You Back”
Let’s get REAL about
the GOOD FOODS we need to
nourish our
bodies
(Bring a recipe to share if you
think about it.)
Member
Recipes
Skinny Taco Salad in a
Jar
image:
http://cdn.skinnyms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Skinny-Taco-Salad-in-a-Jar.png
*includes the dressing Yields: 2 servings |
Serving Size: 1 pint-sized jar (2 cups) | Calories: 278 | Previous Points: 6 |
Points Plus: 7 | Total Fat: 18 g | Saturated Fat: 8 g | Trans Fat: 0 g |
Cholesterol: 36 mg | Sodium: 235 mg | Carbohydrates: 22 g | Dietary Fiber: 4 g |
Sugars: 6 g | Protein: 12 g |
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup baked tortilla chips, broken
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, reduced-fat
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup salsa
Creamy Salsa Dressing: (optional)
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons ripe, mashed avocado
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup salsa
Salad:
Directions
Heat a skillet over medium heat
and add the turkey and the seasonings. Cook until turkey is no longer pink.
Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
To make the salad, divide the
tortilla chips between two jars. Layer each with half the cheese, followed by
the lettuce, turkey mixture, and cherry tomatoes.
Make the optional dressing by
blending the yogurt, avocado, lime juice, and salsa in a blender. Blend until
creamy and smooth. Top the salad with the dressing, seal the jars and store in
the fridge until ready to eat. Eat within 1-2 days for best results.
Easy Chicken and Cheese
Quesadilla
- 8 whole wheat or whole grain tortillas
- 1 cup chopped/shredded cooked chicken breasts, skin and bones removed (rotisserie or leftover chicken may be used)
- 3/4 cup shredded low fat cheddar, monterey jack, or quesillo (a Mexican string cheese) cheese
- 3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt or nonfat sour cream
- 3/4 cup Tex Mex Salsa
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Add half of the olive oil to coat
a pan over medium heat. Add 2 whole wheat tortillas (or as many as will fit in
the pan), cover with an even layer of the cheese and the chicken breast meat,
and top with a second tortilla. Optionally, the salsa may be added to the
shredded chicken and cooked with the quesadilla, rather than served on top after
it is cooked.
Once the tortillas are golden
brown on one side, carefully flip until golden brown on the other side. Remove
tortillas and place on a platter. Repeat with second batch. Top with sour cream/
Greek yogurt and salsa to serve.
Read more at http://skinnyms.com/easy-chicken-cheese-quesadillas/#doIZXufXVqrxdUhA.99
Makes 4 servings at 12 PP each
Cheesy Potluck
Potatoes
2 lb (32 oz) bag of frozen hash brown
potatoes (I used the cubed kind), defrosted (or just use
refrigerated)
¼ cup chopped onion
1 cup fat free sour cream
10.75 oz can of 98% fat free cream of
chicken OR cream of mushroom soup for a vegetarian option
1 cup 2% reduced fat shredded cheddar
cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
¾ cup of corn flakes,
crushed
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly mist a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the corn flakes and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the corn flakes over the top and bake for one hour until potatoes are cooked through. Slice into eight pieces and serve
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PLUS:
5 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com) www.snackgirl.com
5 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com) www.snackgirl.com
Skinny Tres Leches Poke Cale
Adapted from Southern Bite By Renee's Kitchen Adventures Servings - 18 - 24 Serving Size - 1/18th or 1/24th of cake Points Plus per Serving - 1/18th=6 Points+, 1/24th=4 Points+ |
This newsletter is in no way affiliated with
Weight Watchers, Inc. It is simply a motivational tool that I offer to members
who attend my Weight Watchers meetings and wish to receive it.
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I also try to post the newsletter on our private FB page "Zig's
Winners" and the Google Blog called Midweek Minutes http://midweekminutes.blogspot.com/.
Find us on FB and ask to joinour own private support
group!
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